WHERE WE STAND: Time has come for early voting

To increase participation, New Jersey should offer early voting.

The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy has state Democratic lawmakers talking about the need for expanded early voting next time around. They should convert the talk into legislation, and work to get it passed.

If New Jersey had been among the 32 states that now promote early voting, some of the confusion and tumult of Election Day could have been avoided.

The state's valiant, but inadequate, efforts to carry off the election in every county a week after Superstorm Sandy hit could have been mitigated if fewer people needed to vote on Election Day a week ago. In fact, across the country more than 30 million people voted before Election Day this year.

The early voting legislation Democrats plan to propose would allow New Jerseyans to cast their ballots in person before Election Day. Their push, in the wake of the difficulties many New Jerseyans had voting in parts of the state where damage from Sandy was severe, only highlights the value of such a system.

In-person early voting would seem to be far more secure than electronic early voting. Voting by mail, as is already done in New Jersey through absentee ballots, is also a good idea. In fact, absentee ballots are available currently to any New Jerseyan who wants to vote early, it's just that few people take advantage of this.

The arguments against early voting seem sentimental at best. One defense of the current system is that setting aside just one day to cast ballots serves as a unifying experience of civic responsibility, and indeed democracy itself.

But a single date set in stone more than 150 years ago is not the best way to ensure participation in our democracy. Things happen. You have to work late. Your car won't start. You get sick or your kids get sick, or any of the other inconveniences that disrupt our days.

It is not the date that should be enshrined but, rather, the act of making one's voice heard - regardless of the day. Even with early voting, Election Day should remain where it is on the calendar each November, allowing those who want to vote on that day to do so.

Superstorm Sandy may have provided the impetus for legislators' sudden interest in early voting. But that interest should not fade away. Lawmakers in Trenton should introduce such legislation, vigorously debate the style and methods of early voting, and send to the governor a bill allowing in-person voting before the next Election Day.

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WHERE WE STAND: Time has come for early voting

The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy has state Democratic lawmakers talking about the need for expanded early voting next time around. They should convert the talk into legislation, and work to get it